Can washing and liquid feeding device



Aug. 24, 1954 c. M. MOORE CAN WASHING AND LIQUID FEEDING DEVICE FiledMarch 22, 1951 TICJ...

0 R w O YJE 4 4 w m Z w n WA (La/PK M Moss.

BY, A

Patented Aug. 24, 1954 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE CAN WASHING ANDLIQUID FEEDING V DEVICE Clark M. Moore, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor uto Cowles. Chemical Company,

a corporation of Ohio Cleveland, Ohio,

Application March 22, 1951, Serial No. 217,000

a particularly usefulfor successively feeding predetermined amounts of adetergent solution to an article washing machine wherein a series ofarticles are automatically washed. It is=sti1l another object of theinvention to provide afeeding device for intermittent feeding ofdiscrete quantities or slugs of adetergent solution and wherein the sizeof the individual slug may be accurately predetermined and readilyadjusted. It is a still 0 further object of the invention to provide adetergent solution feed device which is adapted to be so connected to anarticle washing machine that the number of slugs of solution fedcorresponds automatically with the number of articles supplied to themachine for washing. Other objects of theinvention will be in partobvious and in part pointedout hereafter. r r

The many objects and advantages of the present invention may best beunderstood and appreciated by reference to the accompanying drawingwhich illustrates a preferred embodiment of the feeding device of theinvention applied to a conventional milk can washing machine.

the description proceeds it will become apparent .that the presentfeeding device is not limited'in its application to a milk can washingmachine 0 but may be used. with other types of washing machines, and infact generally in situations where an intermittentfeed of discretequantities .ofliquidisrequired.

Inthe drawing: H Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of aportionof aconventional milk can washing machine with the present feeding deviceoperatively connected thereto; and,

. Figure 2 is an enlarged elevationof the solutionfeedingmechanism inthe lower part ofthe detergent solution storage tank, with certain of rthe parts being shown in section.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing the conventional milkcan washing. machine there shownis of the type wherein the milk cans arecarried by a conveyor I2 to successive stations designated l4, l6, I8,and .22. The washing operation consists of a series of steps that arecarried out at the successive stations of the washi s ma i e O a n t nhe can w sh m chine shewninflieure 1- ill e ma h J-l 'i mally includes anumber of stations both before 4 Claims. (Cl. 134-49) and after stations[6-22 at which operations are carried out that need not be describedherein. As shown in Figure 1, the milk can covers 24 are carried on aconveyor 26 above the row of cans and are likewise subjected to certainwashing operations.

The cans at stations I4, l6 and 18 are subjected to internal washingwith a detergent solution which is stored in a reservoir 28. The washingsolution is withdrawn from reservoir 28 through pipe 30 and pumped bypump 32 through pipe 34 to the sprays 36, 38 and 40, from which thesolution is sprayed into the interior of themilk cans at the threestations respectively. (In some machines the outside of each can is alsowashed with the detergent solution.) It is apparent that as each canmoves through the machine it is subjected to three spraying actions withdetergent solution, i. e. at stations l4, l6 and I8 successively. Afterwashing the interior surfaces of the milk can, the solution .fiowsbackinto the reservoir 28. At station 20 each can is permitted to drainwithout further spraying and the drainage liquid flows down over abaffle 42 into the reservoir 28. At station 22 each can is rinsed andthen moves on to other stations at which further operations areperformed on it.

At station20 the bottom of each can is subjected to the action of asteam spray. Steam for operating this spray is supplied from a highpressure steam header. 44, shown at the top of Figure 1, and flowsthrough branch pipe 46, to and through a valve 48 and pipe 50 to thespray 52, which is directed toward the bottom of the can.

The valve 48 is a so-called whistle valve of convalve 48 operates tosupply steam to the spray 52 while each can is at station 20 and closeswhen each can leaves station 20.

Prior to the time the cans reach station [4 they have been internallywashed with water and arewet. This water dilutes the detergent solutionsprayed into the cans at stations I l, l6 and I8 and hence tend-storeduce the washing effectiveness of the solution over a period of time.Also condensate from spray 52 flows into reservoir 28 anddilutes thesolution therein. Moreover as the cans leave station 20 they carry withthem smallgamount of detergent solution. For

these and other reasons it is necessary that the necessary to adddetergent to the reservoir to maintain the desired detergentconcentration therein and the feeding device of' the present inventionis particularly well suited to perform this function.

Still referring to Figure 1,. the feeding device comprises a tank 54adapted to contain a quantity of a stock detergent solution which may bean aqueous solution of alkaline silicates and phosphates. Located withinthe tank. 54.near the bottom thereof are a screen 56, check valve 58 andpipe cross 62 interconnected in such manner that solution from the tankcan flow by gravity successively through the screen, check valve andpipe cross and then downwardly into .3. measuring chamber. The pipecross 62 is connectedto pipe 50 on the discharge side of whistle-valve48-by apipe fifircontaining a l-needleetype. regulating valve .58. Aspointed out above thevalve. 4B is intermittently actuated to supplysteam to pipe E, and thisintermittent steamqpressurezis used, as morefully described below, to periodically force detergent solution :frommeasuring chamber 64 through a discharge tubeJii tothe reservoir 28.

Referring-now to Figure. 2. the pipe cross 52 is fixed tothe bottom oftank 54 in any suitable manner, such as by brazingor ,welcling, and ispositioned in registry with a hole i2 in the bottom of the tank.Thescreen 55 is connected by a pipe 1 4 to check valve 58 which .isinturn connected by pipe 16 and bushing 18130 the righthand opening ofcross 62. The steam pipe 66 is connected through bushing 8%).to theleft-hand opening of cross62. The connection of pipes .66 and 76toopposite sides: of the cross has been found advantageous because ofthe fact that the steam entering throughupipe 66 exerts apressurethrough pipe 76 that helps to ensure rapid closing of-the checkvalve. 58, thereby substantially'diminishing back flow of detergentsolution into the main body of SOlIltiOIl'iIl tank 54.

.It.will.be understood that the screen 56 functions to prevent suspendedsolids inv the tank 54 from entering: the measuring system.

The measuring chamber 64 is secured to the bottom of the tank 54 inregistry withhole I? .by means of 'thebolts 82.

The bolts engage an annular ring or flange 84 having a frusto-conical-portion=36 that-cooperates with an outwardly flared portion 88 .ofchamber 64 to urge it against the bottom of. tank 54. A frusto-conicalgasket .80 is interposed between the portion. 86 of flange 184 and theflared portion 88 of chamber 64, and

a :second gasket 92 is provided between the top of chamber 64 and bottomof tank 54 to seal the 'partstagainst leakage. The chamber 64 ispreferably madeof glass so that the level of solution therein can beobserved.

The dischargetube I0 is mounted in the upper opening of cross'62 andextends downwardly into the measuring chamber 64. As shown in Figure 2the tube is mounted in a compression fitting 94 of known type which isthreaded into abushing 96 that is in turn threaded into the upperopening of .cross 62. The fitting 94. includes a packing nut 98 that maybe taken up in known manner to provide a fluid-tight seal between thetube 10 and pipe cross 62 and prevent fiuids'from being discharged -frompipe cross 62 otherwise 4 than through chamber 64. The fitting 94 alsoprovides a means whereby the height of the lower end of discharge tube10 within measuring chamber 64 can be adjusted to vary as desired thesize of each slug of solution i. e. the quantity of detergent solutiondelivered during each periodic operation '-of a, the 1 feeding device.

This adjustment of the position of the" lower end of tube 10 can beeffected either by loosening nut .98 or by initially so adjusting thenut as to permit frictional sliding movement of the tube 10 vwithrespect to cross 62 so that the height of the stronger than. that in 1.the reservoir 23, for example, 30 times-.as strong. .The'solution thusprepared flows, as. previously described, through thescreen 56,,pipe'14,check valve.58,.pipe 15 and cross :62 tothe measuring chamber. and

fills the chamber. When a milk can movesto station, 20 the whistle valve48; is actuated and steam-is supplied throughipipe -56 to thetop of themeasuring-chamber 64,-,thus closing check valve 58 :and forcing liquidout through ,dis-

. charge pipe 10 to the reservoir 28 until the liquid level inchamber-64 has dropped below thebottom of discharge, pipe 10, whereuponsteam will flow throughthe discharge pipe but. no further iliquid'will-be discharged. ltist-husclearthat substantiallythe sameamount of solution will be discharged :eachtime'the valve 48 isactuated. The needle valve. 68 is adjusted togivethe .de-

sired flowof :steam through-pipefifi. The continuing fiow' of; steamthrough pipes 56; and :10

after each. slug. of liquid :has been delivered to reservoir 2B-servestoykeepthe, discharge, pipe T0 clean and free from. deposits.ofqdetergent solids.

When each canmoves. awayfromstationy-N whistle valve 48:-.closesand-solutionfiows from tank 54 into-measuring; chamber 64. Duringtheperiod thatthe: whistle valve. 48 is closed, a portion of the. steam inpipes 66.and;10 and chamber 1 64 condenses thereby producing :a. partialvacuum within the systemthatassists iii-drawing liquid :fromtank54 intothemeasuring chamber 54. :As shown in Figurel, the. discharge: end oftube lllgis preferably located .somewhati-below the liquid level=in-reservoir 28 to increase thisvacuum vrefilling effect.

LWhenanother can vmovesto station '20'the above-described operation isrepeated. Thus each time a can moves forward onestation a=slug of .stocksolution of predetermined size. is discharged into. the reservoir28."The sizeof the slug is con- :trolled,'.by adjustment of: the height ofthe-lower end of discharge pipe Hi, to compensate for dilu- :tion of thesolution in reservoir 28 due to such factorsas waterlbeing. carriedbyeach canto the .rdetergent spraystations, and water' being added tothe reservoir to maintain the total-volume of detergentsolution'constant.

'It :should be noted that the presentfeeding device.servesaatointer-relate movement of *the cans-and replenishment of thesolution in-reservoir"28 in such manner: that if, for example, thewashing machine is: stopped; the supply-of stock solution to tank '28 isautomatically interrupted.

Also if the cansare irregularly fed" to the washing machine; thedetergent solution feeding -de- *vice automatically takes this factorinto account and supplies a number of slugs of make-up solu-.tionuprecisely. corresponding to thelnumber of quired or desirable.Also the "structure'illustratively described above may be modified invarious ways without departing from the scope of the invention. .Forexample, the whistle valve 48 may be replaced by a solenoid-operatedvalve and the desired intermittent flow of pressure fluid achievedelectrically rather than mechanically. Also the check valve 58, cross 62and pipes 66 and can belocated outside tank 54 if desired. However thevacuum refilling effect referred to above has been found to beconsiderably more pronounced when these parts are located within tank 54and hence more positive refilling of chamber 64 can be secured byusingthe apparatus specifically described herein. Other modifications withinthe scope of the invention and other usefulapplications of the presentfeeding device will occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for measuring and feeding predetermined discrete quantitiesof a detergent solution to the detergent reservoir of an article washingmachine of the type wherein articles to be washed are moved tosuccessive stations at which they are automatically washed with fluidincluding detergent solution from said reservoir, and a steam valve ismounted near at least one of said stations and is actuated by movementof one of said articles to said station to supply steam to said article,said apparatus comprising, in combination with said machine, a tankadapted to contain a body of said detergent solution, a

measuring chamber positioned below the liquid level in saidtank formeasuring a predetermined quantity of said solution, a conduit forconducting solution from said body of solution to said measuringchamber, said conduit containing a check valve to prevent backflow ofsolution from said measuring chamber to said body of solution, adischarge conduit extending into said measuring chamber to apredetermined point between the top and bottom thereof and leading tosaid reservoir, and a third conduit connecting the discharge side ofsaid steam valve with the top of said chamber, whereby a predeterminedamount of solution within said chamber is periodically forced throughsaid discharge conduit and to said reservoir, and thereafter saidmeasuring chamber is refilled by flow from said tank.

2. Apparatus for measuring and feeding predetermined discrete quantitiesof a detergent solution to the detergent reservoir of an article washingmachine of the type wherein articles to be washed are moved tosuccessive stations at which they are automatically washed with fluidincluding detergent solution from said reservoir, and a steam valve ismounted near at least one of said stations and is actuated by movementof one of said articles to said station to supply steam to said article,said apparatus com"- prising, in combination with said machine,za tankadapted to contain a body of said detergent solution, a measuringchamber positionedbelow the liquidlevel in saidltank for measuring apredetermined quantity of said"solution, .a.conduit for conductingsolution fromsaid body of solution to said measuring chamber, saidconduit containing acheck valve to prevent backflow of solution fromsaidimeasuring chamberito said body of solution, a dischargeoonduitextending into said measuring chamber to a predeterminedpointbetween thetop andbottom thereof andleading to said reservoir, anadjustable connection-between said chamber and dischargeflconduit topermit 'ad justment of the height ofthe endof said discharge conduit iwithin saidwmeasuring chamber to vary the magnitude of saidpredetermined discrete quantity of solution, and a third conduitinterconnecting the downstream side of said steam valve with the top ofsaid chamber, whereby a predetermined amount of solution within saidchamber is periodically forced through said discharge conduit to saidreservoir, and thereafter said measuring chamber is refilled by flow ofsolution from said tank.

3. Apparatus for measuring and feeding predetermined discrete quantitiesof a detergent solution to the detergent reservoir of an article washingmachine of the type wherein articles to be washed are moved tosuccessive stations at which they are automatically washed with fluidincluding detergent solution from said reservoir, and a steam valve ismounted near at least one of said stations and is actuated by movementof one of said articles to said station to supply steam to said article,said apparatus comprising, in combination with said machine, a tankadapted to contain a body of said detergent solution, said tank having adischarge opening in the bottom thereof, a measuring chamber secured tothe bottom of said tank in registry with said opening, a first conduitwithin said tank secured to the periphery of said openin for conductingsolution to said measuring chamber, said first conduit including a checkvalve for preventing backflow of solution from said measuring chamber tosaid body of solution, a second conduit extending from a point withinsaid measuring chamber through the body of solution in said tank to saidreservoir, and a third conduit extending from the discharge side of saidsteam valve through the body of solution in said tank to the top of saidmeasuring chamber, whereby a predetermined amount of solution withinsaid chamber is periodically forced through said second conduit to saidreservoir.

4. Apparatus for measuring and feeding predetermined discrete quantitiesof a detergent solution to the detergent reservoir of an article washinmachine of the type wherein articles to be washed are moved tosuccessive stations at which they are automatically washed with fluidincluding detergent solution from said reservoir, and a steam valve ismounted near at least one of said stations and is actuated by movementof one of said articles to said stationto supply steam to said article,said apparatus comprising, in combination with said machine, a tankadapted to contain a body of said detergent solution, said tank having adischarge opening in the bot-- tom thereof, a measuring chamber securedto the bottom of said tank in registry with said opening, a pipe crossvertically arranged within said tank with its bottom connection securedto the bottom of said'tank'in registry with said discharge opening, aconduit connected to one of the side connections of said pipe cross,said conduit communicating with said body of solution and including ascreen and check valve, a discharge conduit adjustably mounted in thetop connection of said pipe cross, said discharge conduit extending froma point within 'said measuring chamber through the lower and upperconnections of saidpipe cross and said body of solution to saidreservoir, and a pressure fluid supply conduit connected'to the otherside connection of said'pipe cross and extending through said body-ofsolution to the discharge side of said steam valve for conducting steamfrom the discharge side of said steam valve to the top of said measuringchamber, whereby a predetermined 8 amount ofsolu'tion in said measuringchamber is periodically forced through said discharge conduit andthereafter said'measuring' chamber is refilled by flow of solution fromsaid tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,042,106 Grant Oct. 22, 1912 1,537,679 Killman May 12, 19251,794,769 Hopkins Mar. 3, 1931 1,972,711 Kendall Sept. 4, 1934 2,101,468Dale Dec. 7, 1937 2,127,017 Walker Aug; 16, 1938 2,197,602 Wolcott et alApr. 16,1940 2,395,968

Ornas Mar. 5, 19 16

